None of us want to lose capacity – with our mobility, energy or cognitive abilities (memory). But, with longer lives comes changes in physical and sometimes mental abilities that face the best of us. Many of these changes are natural and are expected. Some, like a diagnosis of a progressive illness or medical incident like a stroke, hit us suddenly.
Often times we don’t even seek a consult as we experience changes as we age because we attribute each change to a part of the circle of life. However, that is called “reverse ageism” – not advocating for the highest quality of life and highest level of functioning possible because you think the change is just part of aging. There have been many medical breakthroughs in the past 10 years and we should always seek ways in which to make our lives better.
The best way to be proactive is to sit down with an expert (Professional Care Manager) and go over your needs, desires and wishes for all the days of your life. This is an endeavor you take on when you are healthy, not during a crisis.
The professional will gather your values, interests, wishes, desires and help you look at options should you ever need support or assistance for a short or an extended amount of time. Once you have done this, you can take this information to your estate planning attorney and/or financial planner to be sure they document your wishes in order to have your decision maker follow them should you lose capacity.
Our care managers meet with “you” the client annually and call quarterly with those who want to be part of our “Proactive Planning” club. This allows an opportunity and time to update the professional on any desired changes. This gives the individual or couple the reassurance that, if something does change in their health status, they have a professional patient advocate, care manager available 24/7 to pave the way to a good outcome.
The professional will advocate for the client and work with the client’s care team and family and base all decisions on the desires and values of the individual and not others.
If you are interested in our “Proactive Planning” club, give us a call and we will give you all the details that will leave you feeling free to live your life not worrying about what will happen when health or environmental changes occur. You know you will have an “angel” with great skills who knows you to guide any care or decisions based on your values!